Tile edge grinding machine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for removing sand particles from the edges of ceramic tile elements including tile clamp assemblies which are adapted to automatically pick up the individual tile elements and successively present each of the tile element edges to a grinding wheel. The tile clamp assemblies are carried by an endless chain conveyor extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheels. Studs on the tile clamp assemblies engage cam surfaces adjacent the conveyor which rotate the tile clamp assemblies and tiles clamped therein to present the several tile edges to the grinding wheels.

United States Patent Inventors Malcolm A. Schweiker Worcester; Wayne C.Watson, Ambler, both of Pa. Appl. No. 12,488 Filed Feb. 2, 1970 PatentedJan. 4, 1972 Assignee American Olean Tile Company, Inc.

Lansdale, Pa. Original application June 23, 1966, Ser. No. 559,943, nowPatent No. 3,495,569. Divided and this application Feb. 2, 1970, Ser.No. 12,488

TILE EDGE GRINDING MACHINE 9 Claims, 42 Drawing Figs.

11.8. (1 51/76 Int. Cl B24b 7/00, 82% 9/00 Field of Search 51/76, 80

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,526 5/1934 Weber 51176 2,531,640 11/1950 Oberstar 51/76 X 2,552,194 5/1951 Lindsay et a151/76 Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Attorney-Howson & I-IowsonABSTRACT: Apparatus for removing sand particles from the edges ofceramic tile elements including tile clamp assemblies which are adaptedto automatically pick up the individual tile elements and successivelypresent each of the tile element edges to a grinding wheel. The tileclamp assemblies are carricd by an endless chain conveyor extendingparallel to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheels. Studs on thetile clamp assemblies engage cam surfaces adjacent the conveyor whichrotate the tile clamp assemblies and tiles clamped therein to presentthe several tile edges to the grinding wheels.

PATENIED JAN 41372 SHEET OIUF 12 l l l l l l H H ":4" I I l l l fflluINVENTORSZ MALCOLM A. SCHWEIKER BY WAYNE c. WATSON hm &

ATTY8.

PATENTEDJAN 4132 3631.632 SHEET DEUF 12 INVENTORS:

MALCOLM A. SCHWEIKER WAYNE C. WATSON ATTYS.

PATENTEU JAN 41912 sum D3 or 12 INVENTORS: MALCOLM A. SCHWEIKER WAYNE C.WATSON QUE an ATTYS.

PATENTED JAN 4 I972 SHEET USUF 12 FIG-I3.

FIG! 2 FIGI4.

INVENTORS MALCOLM A. SCHWEIKER WAYNE C. WATSON ATTYS.

PATENIEDJMI 4:972 3.631.632 SHEET OIUF 12 m a F I6. 230.. 5/

/9/ I INVENTORSI MALCOLM A.SCHWIKER BY WAYNE c. WATSON ATTY3.

PATENIEUJAN 41972 3531.632 SHEET USUF 12 v .9 7 I 200 A 2 /a/ .HHHH

24/ FIGBO.

INVENTORS. MALCOLM A. S CHW E IKER WAYNE C. WATSON Mm /r/ ATTVS.

PATENTEB JAN 4 L972 SHEET lEOF 12 INVBNTORS: MALCOLM A. SCHWEIKER BYWAYNE c. WATSON ATTYS.

TILE EDGE GRINDING MACHINE This application is a division of copendingapplication, Ser. No. 559,943, filed June 23, 1966, entitledTILE-TREATING MACHINE now U.S. Pat. No. 3,495,569.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for treatingceramic mosaic tiles and relates more particularly to apparatus forautomatically removing residual grains of sand from the edges ofunglazed ceramic tile elements and for applying a primer to the tileedges. The apparatus of the invention further includes means forblending tiles into a random assortment, means for separating doubletiles and foreign matter from the assortment, and means for distributingthe treated tiles into a plurality of rows for transfer to a tileassembly station.

Unglazed ceramic mosaic tile elements, which are most commonly made inthe 1 inch square size for use in flooring and similar applications, dueto their relatively small size, are normally fired while disposed onedge in a bed of sand, the sand serving to prevent shrinkage of thetiles by providing an even distribution of heat to the tiles. Because ofthe edgewise disposition of the tiles in the sand, grains of sand becomebonded to the tile edges during firing of the tiles. The adhering sandgrains have heretofore not been removed from the tiles in the formationof tile assemblies since the type of grouting conventionally appliedbetween the tile elements following the setting thereof in cementadheres to and securely bonds the tile edges despite the presence of thesand particles.

However, with the recently developed pregrouted tile assemblies of thetype disclosed in the copending application, Ser. No. 529,369, assignedwith the present application to a common assignee, wherein anelastomeric bonding material is applied between the tiles upon formationof the tile assembly, the residual sand particles become a problem. Theelastomeric grouting will not adhere to the tile surfaces unless aprimer is first applied to the surfaces, and it is essential that thetile edges be properly primed prior to the application of theelastomeric grouting material. Attempts have been made to spray apriming solution on the tile edges but have met with limited success.Although the sprayed primer reached the tile edge surfaces despite thepresence of the projecting sand particles, it was difficult to preventthe spray from overlapping excessively onto the faces of the tileelements. Since, in the manufacture of the pregrouted tile assemblies,the elastomeric grouting is applied in excess to the aligned tiles andthen removed from the tile faces, the application of primer must berestricted to the tile edge surfaces with only a slight overlap alongthe curved face edges to prevent the grouting from adhering to the tilefaces.

In the present invention the preferred method of applying the primer tothe tile edges is by bringing the tile edges into contact with arotating primer applicator roll which is partially immersed in a troughof primer solution. For this method of primer application, the sandparticles must be removed from the tile edges.

In view of the above, it is a primary object of the present invention toprovide an apparatus for automatically treating the edges of unglazedceramic mosaic tile elements to remove residual sand particlestherefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tile treatingapparatus as described which includes means for automatically applying apriming solution to the tile edges following the removal of sandparticles therefrom, and means for curing the priming solution.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a tile treatingapparatus as described which is adapted to provide a blending of theceramic tile elements into a random assortment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus as describedwhich automatically removes double tiles, dust and foreign matter fromthe tile assortment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus asdescribed wherein, following treating of the tile edges, the tiles areautomatically distributed in a random assortment into a plurality ofrows for transfer to a tile assembly station.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be more readilyapparent from the following detailed description of an embodimentthereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1a and 1b are a divided side elevational view of a tiletreatingapparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1a showing the tileblending and tile-separating units of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 2 showing the operation ofthe tile-blending unit;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view partly in section taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view partly in section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

' FIG. 6 is a view partly in section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view partly in section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2showing details of the tile sweepoff brush assembly;

FIG. 8 is a view partly in section taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 2showing the separator unit;

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10a is a sectional view taken along line 10a-10a of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 is a view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 8 showing theseparation of the double tiles from the single tiles;

FIG. 15 is a plan view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 1a showing thetile-erecting fingers and the tile guide conveyor;

FIG. 16 is a view partly in section taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 are successive sectional views taken along lines17-17, 18-18 and 19-19 of FIG. 16 showing the respective shapes of thetile-erecting fingers at those sections and the action of the fingers inerecting tile elements passing therebetween at each successive stage;

FIG. 20 is a view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 16 showing the passageof a row of tiles from the tile-erecting fingers onto the tile guideconveyor;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of the area indicated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 23a is a view taken along line 23a-23a of FIG. 1b;

FIG. 23b is a view taken along line 23b-23b of FIG. lb;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged view partly in section taken along line 24-24 ofFIG. 230;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged view partly in section taken along line 25-25 ofFIG. 24 showing details of one of the tile clamp assemblies;

FIG. 26 is a view taken along line 26-26 of FIG. 25 and showing inbroken lines the manner in which the tile clamp assembly opens toreceive a tile element;

FIG. 27 is a view similar to FIG. 25 showing the tile clamp assembly inthe open position prior to receiving a tile;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing the approach of a tile clampassembly into the tile-receiving position;

FIG. 29 is a view taken along line 29-29 of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a view partly in section taken along line 30-30 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 31 is a view taken along line 31-31 of FIG. 230 showing the passageof the tile clamp assemblies across the tilegrinding wheels;

FIG. 32 is a view partly in section taken along line 32-32 of FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a view taken along line 33-33 of FIG. 32 showing in brokenlines the rotation of a tile element between grinding wheels;

FIG. 34 is a view taken along line 34-34 of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a view taken along line 35-35 of FIG. 32;

FIG. 36 is a view partly in section taken along line 36-36 of FIG. 23b;

FIG. 37 is a view partly in section taken along line 3737 of FIG. 36showing the primer applicator rolls and the dryers located therebeneath;

FIG. 38 is a view taken along line 38-38 of FIG. 36 showing details ofthe primer applicator rolls;

FIG. 39 is an enlarged partial elevational view similar to that of FIG.36 showing schematically the movement of a tile along a primerapplicator roll;

FIG. 40 is a view partly in section taken along line 40-40 of FIG. lbshowing a pair of tile distributor assemblies; and

FIG. 41 is a view partly in section taken along line 41-41 of FIG. 40.

The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to receive a batch ofceramic tile elements of various shades and to blend the tiles into arandom assortment. The tiles are screened by the apparatus to removedust and foreign matter and any double tiles are removed by passage ofthe tiles through narrowly spaced rods. The edges of each tile elementare then presented to a grinding or sanding wheel to remove the residualgrains of sand therefrom, following which the edges are presented to aprimer applicator roll to apply a primer coating to the tile edges. Thetiles are subsequently passed through a drying region to dry the primerand are then distributed in a random assoitment onto a conveyor leadingto a tile tray filling station.

To provide an initial understanding of the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, a brief description of the primary features thereof will bepresented. Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2and 3 thereof, the ceramic tile ele ments T are introduced into thetile-treating apparatus on the belt-type tile infeed conveyor 42, thetiles dropping therefrom onto a circular tile blending table 44 uponwhich they are blended into a random assortment by a group of blendingpaddles, brushes, and the rotation of the table. The tiles are thentransferred from the table by the tile sweepoff brush 45 onto theoscillating separator unit 46 whereon dirt and foreign matter as well asdouble tiles are separated from the single tiles which are advanced bythe oscillating motion of the separator onto the tile guide conveyor 47.Each tile element is removed from the conveyor 47 by a chain-advancedtile clamp assembly 50 and the edges of each tile are successivelypresented to sanding or grinding wheel assembly 51 to remove the sandgrains therefrom. The tiles are further advanced by the tile clampassemblies 50 through a primer applicator station 52 and under dryers 53located therebeneath. The treated tiles are then released into the tiledistributor assemblies 54 which distribute the tile in a randomassortment onto the outfeed conveyor 55 for delivery to a tile assemblystation (not shown).

With the above general description of the apparatus in mind, theembodiment will now be considered in detail. With reference to FIGS.1-7, the tile-blending means associated with the horizontal tileblending table 44 includes means for rotating the blending table. Asshown in FIG. 4, the table is supported by a plurality of spaced rollers56 mounted on a suitable supporting frame 57. A central vertical shaft58 secured at its upper end to the table 44 is joumaled by a bearingunit 59 mounted on the frame 57 and at its lower end by a bearing unit60 mounted on the lower frame 61. The shaft 58 and table 44 are drivenslowly in rotation through a large sprocket 62 on the shaft 58 by chaindrives connecting the motor 63, speed reducer 64 and the sprocket 62.

The tile elements advanced by the conveyor 42, upon reaching the edge 65of the conveyor, drop onto the table 44 which is rotated in acounterclockwise direction as indicated in FIG. 3. The tiles areretained on the table surface by the peripheral tile guide 66 attachedto the frame 57. During rotation of the table, the tiles are subjectedto the stirring action of the three blending paddles 67, 68 and 69, eachof which, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, is rotated in acounterclockwise direction. The blending paddles are preferably made ofrubber or other resilient material and are continuously rotated in aplane parallel to the table surface by the motor 70 acting through gearreducer 71 and driving the transverse shaft 72 by means of the drivechain and sprocket assembly 73. Suitable transmission units 74 and 75connected with the shaft 72 drive the respective vertical shafts 76 and77 to the lower end of which the paddles 69 and 67 are attached. Atransmission 78 spaced from the shaft 72 and driven thereby through thedrive chain and sprocket assembly 80 rotates the vertical shaft 81carrying the blending paddle 68. All three of the blending paddles arethus driven continuously by the motor 70 in a counterclockwisedirection.

A tile-spreading brush 82 comprising helically arranged brush elements83 on a horizontal shaft 84 is joumaled in pillow blocks 85 dependingfrom the frame member 86 to position the brush parallel to the tablewith the brush elements contacting the table surface as shown in FIG. 5.The spreading brush is disposed diagonally across the table to feed thetile into the paddles and the tile sweepoff brush 45 as illustrated inFIG. 3. A motor 87 and speed reducer 88 mounted on the frame member 86effect rotation of the brush by means of the chain and sprocket assembly90.

The sweepoff brush 45, which is similar to the spreading brush 82although larger in size, includes the helically disposed brush elements91 secured to the shaft 92 which is joumaled by pillow blocks 93 on thebrush carriage 94. The sweepoff brush is driven in rotation by a motor95 mounted on the carriage 94 acting through speed reducer 96 and chaindrive 97. The carriage 94 includes the rollers 98 which engage theV-type guide rails 100 on the frame 101 as shown in FIG. 7 to permithorizontal travel of the carriage. As illustrated, the sweepoff brush isradially aligned in parallel contiguous relation with the circularblending table 44 and is of a slightly greater length than the tableradius.

As shown in FIG. 2, the guide rails 100 and the supporting frame 101extend radially outwardly from the blending table across the separatorunit 46. Drive means are provided to ef' feet a continuous reciprocationof the sweepofi" brush back and forth along the guide rails, thereciprocating and rotating movement of the brush serving to blend thetiles into a random assortment in the inward stroke and to advance thetiles onto the separator unit during the outward stroke in the mannerschematically illustrated in FIG. 3. The drive means for effecting thebnish reciprocation includes a drive chain 102 disposed between andparallel to the guide rails 100 and connected to the brush carriage 94.The chain 102 at one end passes around idler sprocket 103 on shaft 104extending between the support plates 105 on the frame 101 and at itsopposite end passes over the drive sprocket 106 keyed to drive shaft107. The drive shaft 107 extends beyond the edge of the blending table44 and is connected at its outer end by a chain and sprocket assembly108 to the clutch unit 110 located below the table as shown in FIG. 1a.The clutch unit 110, which is driven by the motor 111 shown in FIG. 2,includes direction reversing means actuated by appropriate limitswitches (not shown) in a known manner to reverse the direction of driveof the drive chain 102 when the sweepoff brush carriage 94 reaches itsend points of travel. The chain 102 is pinned at 112 to the bracket 113of the brush carriage to provide a reciprocating drive of the carriagealong the guide rails 100.

A batch of tiles is introduced onto the blending table 44 from theconveyor 42 when the sweepoff brush 45 is located at its outermostposition 114 shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. As the blending tablerotates in a counterclockwise direction, the tiles are intermixed by theblending paddles 67, 68 and 69 and by the action of the spreading brush82 while the sweepoff brush 45 is slowly advanced from the outermostposition 114 toward the center of the table. The inwardly advancingsweepoff brush is at the same time rotating in a clockwise direction assectionally viewed in FIG. 7 to provide a further shuffling of thetiles. The brush is preferably advanced at a relatively slow rate on theorder of one-half inch per revolution of the blending table. When thesweepoff brush reaches its innermost position shown in FIG. 2, a limitswitch is triggered which reverses the clutch unit 110 thus starting thebrush in the reverse direction to provide a feeding of the tiles ontothe separator unit as shown in FIG. 3. The movement of the brush in thisreversed direction can be somewhat faster than its inward travel rate.

The separator unit 46 includes a rigid base frame 115 above which thetile separator assembly 1 16 is supported by the flexible support units117 for oscillatory movement. The support units comprise plastic straps118 bolted to the angles 120 and 121 welded respectively to a frame 122of the separator assembly and the base frame 115. The angles 120 and 121are so oriented as to provide an angular disposition of the plasticstraps 118 for a purpose which will shortly become evident. Theseparator assembly 116 is oscillated by an oscillating drive meanscomprising a motor 123 driving a shaft 124 through the drive belt 125and sheave 126 keyed to the shaft, the shaft being journaled by pillowblocks 127 adjustably mounted on a support 128 on the base frame 115.Eccentric cams 130 keyed to the shaft 124 coact with the eccentricstraps 131 which are pivotally connected by means of crank arms 132 tothe downwardly depending angles 133 of the separator frame 122. Thisdrive arrangement provides an oscillation of the entire separatorassembly 116 supported on the plastic straps 118, the plastic strapshaving sufficient flexi bility and resilience to permit the desiredoscillations of the assembly while providing sufficient support thereto.Because of the angular disposition of the plastic support straps 118,the oscillation of the assembly by the drive means is primarily along aplane normal to the plane of the straps thereby providing a movement ofthe tiles in the desired direction of travel along the separator unit.

The separator assembly 116 includes a sloping floor 134 attached to theframe 122 which slopes downwardly to an opening 135 located above acollecting bin 136 on the base frame 115. Supported above the floor 134by suitable framing elements at the left hand end of the separatorassembly 116 as viewed in FIG. 8 is a perforated rubber covered plate137 shown most clearly in the enlarged view of FIG. 13. The tilesadvanced from the blending table 44 by the sweepoff brush 45 fall fromthe table onto the rubber covered plate 137, the rubber covering of theplate preventing chipping of the tiles on contact therewith. Due to theoscillatory movement of the separator assembly 116, the tiles areadvanced on the rubber plate to the right as viewed in FIG. 8 and anydust, tile chips, dirt or other foreign matter passes through theperforations of the plate 137 onto the floor 134 and thence through theopening 135 into the collecting bin 136.

On reaching the edge of the plate 137, the tiles drop onto the upperseparating screen 138 which, as illustrated in FIG. 14, comprises upperand lower rows 140 and 141 of transversely spaced wires, the verticaland horizontal spacing of which is such as to permit the passagetherebetween of all single tiles T while any double tiles T are carriedto the end of the upper screen 138 into a double tile discharge trough142 extending transversely thereacross as shown in FIGS. 2 and B. Thetrough 142 is preferably arranged to direct the double tiles into asuitable container (not shown) for which purpose a sloping bottom isprovided as illustrated.

The wires 140 and 141 of the upper screen 138 are passed through spacedholes in the transverse partition 143 at the left-hand end of the screenas viewed in FIG. 8, being secured thereto by nuts on the threaded endthereof, and are fastened to a transverse plate 144 adjacent thedischarge trough 142 at the opposing end thereof in a similar manner. Asindicated in FIGS. and 111a, shims 145 are inserted beneath the wires140 to provide the desired spacing above the wires 141.

The single tiles T, following passage through the upper screen 138, droponto the lower screen 146 made up of wires 147 extending between thepartition 143 and a transverse member 148 in a manner similar to thewires of the upper screen. The wires 147 are of a smaller diameter andspaced closer together to prevent passage of the single tilestherethrough but permitting dirt and dust to drop downwardly onto thefloor 134. As shown in FIG. 11, the single tiles are advanced from thelower screen 146 to the right onto a final separating screen 150 nearlyidentical with the lower screen 146 which provides still anotheropportunity for foreign matter to disassociate itself from the tiles anddrop into the collecting bin 136.

The dust-free tiles, on moving from the screen 150, pass onto the plate151 extending from the separator assembly 116 and connecting theseparator unit with the tile guide conveyor. The plate 151, as shown inFIG. 16 overlaps the frame member 152 of the tile guide conveyor 47, awear plate 153 being attached beneath the plate 151 to move across thesurface of the frame member 152 during oscillation of the separatorassembly. Mounted on the plate 151 are a plurality of tile erectingfingers 154 aligned parallel with the direction of travel of the tilesand being formed as shown in FIGS. 17-19 in a tapering fashion so as tocause erection of the tiles from a flat condition to an edgewisedisposition as shown in FIG. 19. The tile fingers provide a plurality oftile paths which taper from a width sufficient to accommodate a tile ina flat condition to a width only slightly larger than the thickness ofthe tile. Since the tile fingers are secured to the plate 151, which ispart of the separator assembly 116, the tile elements are moved throughthe tile-erecting fingers and erected by the fingers by the oscillatingaction of the separator assembly. As illustrated, appropriate tileretaining guides are placed around the side edges of the variousseparating screens and the plate 151 to prevent the escape of tileelements from the desired flow path.

Following erection by the tile-erecting fingers, the tiles advancethrough guide channels on the plate 151 still under the influence of theoscillating separator assembly onto the conveyor belt 161 of the tileguide conveyor 47 as shown in FIGS. 16 and 20. The tile guide conveyor47 comprises a belt conveyor including the belt 161 which passes aroundthe drive roll 162 on the drive shaft 163 turned by appropriate drivemeans (not shown). The conveyor belt passes around the idler roll 164 atthe opposite end thereof and is tensioned by the idler roll 165 locatedtherebeneath as shown in FIG. 16. Supporting rolls 166 spaced beneaththe upper run of the belt, support the tile-carrying run of the belt toform a substantially flat tile-guiding surface. The tiles are channeledalong the belt between the tile guides 167 which, as shown in FIG. 15,are arranged in parallel pairs for reasons which will shortly becomeevident. The tile guides 167 are suspended above the belt 161 from thesupport members 168 attached to the conveyor frame by the threadedsupport rods 170 as shown in FIG. 21. As shown in FIG. 20, the tileguides 160 on the plate 151 slidably telescope within flared portions171 of the aligned guides 167 to accommodate the oscillating movement ofthe separator assembly to which the guides 160 are attached.

At the tile discharge end of the tile guide conveyor 47, the tiles aredirected into tile pickup stations 175 which, as shown most clearly inFIGS. 22, 28 and 29, comprise tile delivery channels 176 connected withthe tile guides 16'] and extending beyond the end of the conveyor belt161. Each channel 176 terminates in a tile stop element 177 whichsuccessively positions each tile in the pickup position 178 shown inFIG. 28 on a portion 180 of the channel having relatively short channelwalls so as to expose the faces of the tile positioned thereon to a tileclamp assembly as described hereinafter. Each tile pickup stationincludes a channel cover 181 to insure the proper attitude of the tileelements as they enter the portion 180 of the channel, and an upwardlyextending tile guide 182 which is arcuately shaped as is the top of thetile stop 175 to guide each tile from the pickup station followingpickup by the tile clamp assembly. As each tile is removed from a tilepickup station by a clamp assembly, a new tile is fed into the position178, the lines of tiles being continuously advanced along the guides 167into the channels 176 by the conveyor belt 161.

Aligned with the tile guide conveyor 47 is the tile-treating unitgenerally designated 1% which includes spaced parallel frame elements191 supported by the legs 192. At opposed ends of the treating unit 190a transverse idler shaft 193 and drive shaft 194 are respectivelyjournaled in the pillow blocks 195 and 916 on the frame elements 191. Aplurality of sprockets 197 and 198 are mounted respectively on theshafts 193 and 194 over aligned pairs of which the endless chains 200are passed. The drive shaft 194 is driven by the motor 201 and speedreducer 202 by means of the chain drive 203 as shown in FIG. 1b.

The chains 200 are arranged in pairs between which the tile clampassemblies 50 are rotatably supported on transverse shafts 204 as shownin FIGS. 24 and 25. The shafts are attached to the chains by means ofthe blocks 205 which are pinned to modified links of the chain. Mountedon the shafts 204, which are spaced at intervals along the respectivepairs of chains, are the tile clamp assemblies 50, there being, in thepresent instance, two clamp assemblies attached to each shaft 204. Theclamp assemblies are spaced apart a distance equivalent to the spacingof the pairs of tile channels 176 to provide the necessary alignment ofthe tile clamp assemblies with the tile pickup stations. In the presentinstance there are three pairs of chains 200 providing six treatinglines for treating the tile edges. As will be described hereinafter, thesix lines of tiles are increased to 12 by the tile distributorassemblies to provide an outflow of 12 rows of tile elements on theconveyor 55. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for use infilling the standard tile trays holding 12 rows of 24 tiles per row.However, for other purposes, it can be understood that the number oftreating lines can be increased or decreased as desired.

The tile clamp assemblies 50, as shown for example in FIGS. 27 and 28,each include a bearing block 210 through which one of the shafts 204passes, the bearing block being journaled on the shaft by means ofbearings 211 therein. A rigid tile arm 212 extends from one side of thebearing block 210 while a movable tile arm 213 is pivotally mounted at214 to the opposite side of the bearing block. A tension spring 215extending between the clamp arms 212 and 213 urges the clamp arms intothe parallel relation shown in FIG. 25. On the outer ends of the clamparms 212 and 213, the opposed aligned rubber tile-clamping tips 216 and217 are mounted respectively on the shafts 218 and 219 joumaled on theclamp arms. The clamping tips, as shown in FIG. 25, are adapted toengage the tile elements in the tile pickup station and, under thetension of the spring 215, to carry the tile elements through thevarious treating stations of the treating unit.

Mounted on the outer end of the shaft 218 of the rigid clamping arm 212is the disc 220 having a pair of diametrically spaced outer aligningstuds 221 extending from the outer face thereof and four equally spacedaligning studs 222 extending from the inner face thereof. The aligningstuds, in conjunction with guide elements to be described hereinafter,serve to rotate the discs 220 and hence the tiles clamped between theclamping tips to present the tile elements to the treating stations inthe proper orientation. Mounted on the inner faces of the clamp arms 212and 213 in opposed relation, as shown most clearly in FIG. 28, are theassembly opening bars 223 which extend upwardly beyond the clamping armsand terminate in inwardly beveled tips. An extendor block 224 is mountedon the rear face of each bearing block 210 which, as shown in FIGS. 24and 27, has an arcuate rear surface 225 adapted to coact with acylindrical drum 226 extending between the drive sprockets 197, thuslocking the tile clamp assemblies in a radial disposition during passageof the assemblies around the drums 226.

As shown in FIG. 24, the tile clamp assemblies are passed through thetile pickup stations during their upward travel around the drums 226 intheir radially extended disposition. As the clamp assemblies approachthe tile pickup stations, the outer aligning studs 221 of the discs 220engage curved guides 229 attached to the treating unit frame which serveto rotate the discs into a uniform initial position during the pickup ofthe tile elements. As each clamp assembly approaches the pickup station,it engages a clamp assembly opening mechanism 230 extending from thetreating unit frame on the arm 231. The opening mechanism 230 comprisessimply a transverse plate 232 having rollers 233 extending from thecomers thereof which are aligned to engage the opening bars 223 on theclamp arms 212 and 213 as illustrated in FIG. 27 to open the assembly bypivoting the movable clamp arm against the force of the spring 215. Thebeveled tips of the opening bars 223 assist the rollers 233 in enteringbetween the clamp arms and opening the assembly so that the rubber clamptips 216 and 217 will pass in spaced relation from the faces of a tileelement in the tile pickup station. As the clamp assembly clears theopening mechanism, the force of the spring 215 springs the clamping tipstogether against the faces of the tile element to grasp the tile elementand lift it from the pickup station as shown in FIGS. 2A and 25. FIG. 26shows in broken lines at 234 the position of the open assembly and insolid lines the position of the assembly just after passage over theopening mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 24, the tile bearing clamp assemblies on passing overthe top of the drum 226 in the erect position engage the knock downplates 240 suspended from the frame assembly 241 bridged across the tiletreating lines. The plates 240 contact the discs 220 of the clampassemblies and pivot the assemblies into the inclined position 242 shownin FIG. 24 with the outer guide studs 221 engaging a disc guide 243suspended by the arms 244 from the frame assembly 241. As shown in FIGS.24 and 30, the chains 200 are supported along the upper runs thereof bythe horizontal chain guides 245, and the angular disposition of the tileclamp assemblies is determined by a series of guide elements.

The tile clamps assemblies in advancing from the position 242 drop fromthe end of the guides 243 onto the disc guides 246 which slopedownwardly as indicated in FIG. 24. With the discs 220 engaging the discguides 246, the clamp assemblies pivot downwardly about the shafts 204until the outer studs 221 contact the aligning guides 247, supportingthe assemblies in the position 248 shown in FIG. 24.

On further advancement, due to the inclined end portions 249 of thealigning guides 247, the assemblies drop into the position 250 whereupona first edge of each tile element engages the face of a first grindingwheel 251 having the cylindrical shape illustrated and which isrotatably mounted on a shaft 252 .aligned with the path of travel of thetile elements. Mounted on each shaft 252 in addition to the firstgrinding wheel 251 are the second, third and fourth grinding wheels 253,254 and 255, which are adapted to successively engage the several edgesof the tile elements in a manner to be presently described. The shafts252 are joumaled, as shown in FIG. lb, at their ends by the respectivebearings 256 and 257 mounted on frame members 258 and 259 extendingtransversely between the frame elements 191. The shafts 252 are drivenfrom a transverse drive shaft 260 mounted in bearings 261 on the frameelements 191 by means of the miter gears 262, adjoining pairs of shafts252 being rotatably connected by gears 263 as shown in FIG. 23b. Thedrive shaft 261 is connected to a suitable power source (not shown) andis driven in continuous rotation.

During passage of the tile-bearing clamp assemblies across the grindingwheels, the weight of the assemblies is borne by the tiles and serves tobias the tile edges against the wheels, the wheels removing the sandparticles from the tile edges and providing a smooth edge surface whichmay be subsequently sealed with a primer solution in a manner to bepresently described. A disc support rail 265 is provided aligned withthe clamp assembly discs but spaced slightly therebelow during treatmentof the tiles. The rails 265 which, as shown in FIG. 32, are supported byarms 266 depending from chain guides 245, are provided to support thetile assemblies in the event that the assemblies are run across thegrinding wheels without tile elements, thereby avoiding damage to theassemblies through contact with the grinding wheels.

The clamped tile elements are rotated between contact with eachsuccessive grinding wheel by the action of turning cams 267 which arelocated in the path of the inner disc guide studs 222 as shown in FIGS.32-35. As shown in FIG. 35, as

the disc approaches the cam 267, neither the disc nor the inner or outerguide studs are engaged with a guide surface, the rotational position ofthe disc being determined solely by the engagement of the clamped tileelement with the grinding wheel. However, as illustrated in FIG. 33, asthe disc passes over the cam 267, the cam, due to its curved upper camsurface 268, engages the inner guide studs 222 to rotate the disc andclamped tile through 90 while raising the assembly sufficiently abovethe grinding wheels to provide clearance of the tile during the rotationthereof to prevent tile contact with the grinding wheel edges. Since thetiles are rotated 90 by each of the three cams 267, all four edges ofthe tile elements are successively engaged with the grinding wheels toeffect a uniform treatment of each of the tile edges.

Following passage of the tile-bearing clamp assemblies across the lastgrinding wheel 255, the outer guide studs are engaged by the guide rails270 as shown in FIG. 23b to support the assemblies as they pass into theprimer applicator station 52. In the primer applicator station, aplurality of primer applicator rolls 271 aligned with the tile flow aremounted for rotation in a primer solution. As shown in FIG. 37, a plate272 extending between the treating unit frame members supportstherebeneath a primer sump 273 containing a primer solution 274, theplate 271 including apertures 275 connecting the sump 273 with aplurality of primer troughs 276 within which the primer applicator rolls271 are rotatably mounted. The sump 273 is supplied with primer solutionfrom a suitable source (not shown) and maintains a uniform primer levelin each of the communicating troughs. Draining of the troughs and sumpis easily accomplished by means of the single drainpipe 277 shown inFIG. 36.

Flexible primer spreading blades 279 are spring biased against theapplicator rolls 271 to insure a uniform application of primer to therolls. The applicator rolls, shown in FIG. 38, each comprise acylindrical roll element 200 which is inserted onto a drive shaft 281 atone end of a trough 276 and is rotatably mounted at the other end bymeans of the telescoping spring-biased center pin 282 adapted forcoaction with conical slot of the bearing plate 283. The cylindricalroll element 280 may be readily removed by depression of the center pin282 to telescope it against the spring pressure into the roll,permitting removal of the roll from the bath. The shafts 281 arejoumaled by suitable bearings 285 and are driven continuously inrotation by the series of chain drive assemblies 286 from the main driveshaft 287 connected with a suitable power source (not shown).

The tile-carrying clamp assemblies, upon reaching the I primerapplicator station, drop from the guide rail 270 onto the cam surfacedguides 290 aligned to engage the inner guide studs 222. Each of theguides 290 include a series of cams 201 having a shape similar to thecams 267 previously described and which serve to rotate the tileelements three times through 90 to provide contact of each tile edgewith the primer applicator roll 271. The action of the cam surfaces isshown in the schematic view of FIG. 39 wherein it is shown that theflats 292 of the guides between the cam surfaces lie below the innerguide studs 222 during engagement of the tile edges with the applicatorrolls to insure contact of all the edges with the rotating roll and auniform application of primer thereto. Similarly, it is shown in FIG. 39that the cam surface lift the clamp assemblies to a sufficient heightduring rotation of the tiles so that the tile corners clear theapplicator rolls to avoid damage to the tile edges.

Following passage across the primer applicator rolls, the clampassemblies are pivoted upwardly by means of the aligned guides 294 asshown in FIG. 36 which engage the inner guide studs 222. As shown inFIG. 23b, the clamp assemblies are subsequently supported by the guiderails 295 which contact and provide rotation of the discs and hence thetile elements to initiate drying of the primer on the tile edges.

Following passage of the clamp assemblies around the shaft 194 at theend of the treating unit, the tiles are presented to the dryers 53 asillustrated in FIG. 37. The dryers comprise rectangular ducts 300 intowhich hot air is supplied from a suitable source (not shown) and fromwhich the hot air is directed downwardly through apertures 301 onto thetile elements passing therebeneath. Disc guides 302 are provided in thedryer region upon which the discs 220 ride to support the clampassemblies and provide rotation of the tile elements during passagethrough the dryer region to effect a uniform exposure of the primertreated tile edges to the downwardly directed drying air.

Following passage through the dryers, the clamp assemblies drop from thedisc guides 302 into the vertical position 303 shown in FIG. 24. Thearcuate rear surfaces 224 of the clamp assemblies shortly thereaftercontact the drum 226 to lock the assemblies in a radial dispositionduring passage around the drum. As the clamp assemblies start around thedrum, the outer guide studs 221 engage the curved guide 229 previouslydescribed. The assemblies then advance into the tile release mechanism304 which includes the supporting arm 305 connected to a suitable frameinember, a transverse plate 306 secured at the end thereof, and therollers 307 spaced at the corners of the plate 306 to cooperate with theopening bars 223 on the clamp arms 212 and 213 to effect an opening ofthe clamp assemblies and a release of the tile elements.

The tiles, upon release from the clamp assemblies, drop downwardly intothe upwardly opening vertical chutes 310 of the tile distributorassemblies 54 as shown in FIGS. 24 and 40. The chutes 310 each include acentral partition 311 extending from beneath a pivotally mounteddiverter plate 312 to the lower end of the chute. The blade shapeddiverter plates are mounted on the shafts 313 extending through thechutes 310 as shown in FIG. 41. The shafts 313 are connected to alinkage arrangement which effects a flip-flop action of the diverterplates from a first position 314 shown in broken lines in FIG. 40 to asecond position 315, by means of which the tiles are diverted into oneor the other of the two passages formed by the divider 311. The chutes310 are lined with a plastic liner 316 and the divider 311 similarly isprovided with a plastic liner 317 to minimize the possibility ofscratching the tiles as they drop through the chutes. The tile elementsdrop from the chutes onto the belt conveyor 55, being aligned thereon inrows by the tile guide 318 as shown in FIG. 40.

The linkage which provides the flip-flop action of the diverter plates312 includes crank arms 320 attached to the shafts 313 and which arepivotally connected at their lower ends to the transverse connecting rod321. Each end of the connecting rod 321 is pivotally attached to thespaced pivot arms 322 and 323 which are respectively pivoted about thepivot shafts 324 and 325. The pivot arm 322 is urged in rotation in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 40 by the tension spring 326extending between the upper end thereof and a frame member. A horizontalcam follower rod 330 slidably mounted in the rod guide 331 includesrollers 332 and 333 at the opposite ends thereof which are respectivelyengaged with the upper end of the pivot arm 323 and a cam 334 mounted oncamshaft 335 driven by a suitable power source (not shown).

The spring 326, acting on the pivot arm 233. by means of the connectingrod 321, serves to maintain the pivot am 323 in engagement with the camfollower rod and the rod in turn in engagement with the cam 334. Themovement of the cam upon rotation of the camshaft 335 moves the crankarms 320 back and forth to cause the desired flip-flop action of thediverter plates 312. The camshaft is preferably driven at such a speedas to cause a change of the diverter plate position after each tile hasdropped from the tile clamp assemblies so that consecutive tiles will bediverted into adjoining channels of the chute and hence into adjacenttile lines on the conveyor 55. It can thus be understood that by meansof the tile distributor assemblies, the random arrangement of the tilesprovided by the tile-blending table can be maintained even though thenumber of rows of tiles are increased in the present instance from 6 to12. The conveyor 55 is adapted to advance the rows of tiles directly toa tile tray-filling apparatus and the illustrated apparatus isparticularly adapted for filling the standard tile trays accommodating12 rows of 24 tiles each.

The operation of the device, which has been presented in considerabledetail in the above description of the apparatus, considered in summaryform involves the feeding on the conveyor 42 of a batch of tile onto thetile-blending table 44. The tiles are fed onto the blending table whenthe sweepof'f brush 45 is in the outermost position 114. As the table isslowly rotated, the paddles 67, 68 and 69 are continuously rotated tostir the tiles and the sweepofi' brush is slowly advanced toward thecenter of the table. The continual rotation of the spreading bl'LlSh 82and the sweepoff brush in conjunction with the rotation of the paddlesand the table serves to blend the tiles into a random assortment. Whenthe sweepoff brush reaches the innermost position illustrated in FIG. 2,the clutch assembly is actuated to reverse the direction of transversetravel of the brush and its slow outward movement advances the tilesonto the oscillating separator assembly as illustrated in FIG. 3. Dustand foreign matter pass through the perforated rubber coated screen 137and the tiles are advanced onto the upper screen 138 through which thesingle tiles drop onto the lower screen 146. The single tiles are thenadvanced across the screen 150 into the tile erecting fingers 154 fromwhich they emerge in an endwise disposition and pass onto the tile guideconveyor 47.

The tiles pass along the tile guide conveyor into the tile pickupstations whereupon the tile clamp assemblies in the manner describedabove pick up the tiles and present the edges thereof successively tothe tile-grinding wheels 251-255. Each of the tile edges is thenpresented to the primer applicator rolls and a uniform coating of primeris applied to each of the dressed tile edges. The primer is then driedduring the passage of the tiles beneath the dryers 53 and the tileelements are subsequently dropped into the tile distributor assembliesfor distribution onto the conveyor 55 without destroying the randomarrangement of the tiles.

The operation of the apparatus is wholly automatic and requires aminimum amount of attention during operation. The sand particles arethoroughly removed from the edges of the tile elements and a uniformprimer coat applied thereto to insure a complete adherence of theelastomeric grouting thereto during formation of the pregrouted tileassemblies.

Manifestly, changes in details of construction may be effected by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Tile-treating apparatus for removing sand particles from the edges ofceramic tile elements comprising a frame, a pair of spaced parallelshafts joumaled on said frame, a pair of spaced sprockets on each ofsaid shafts, a pair of endless chains extending around said sprockets,drive means for driving one of said shafts in rotation to advance saidchains at a uniform rate, a plurality of tile clamp assemblies pivotallymounted between said chains, a plurality of grinding wheels rotatablydisposed between said chains on said frame, means for driving saidgrinding wheels in rotation and means on each of said tile clampassemblies for carrying a tile element across said grinding wheels andpresenting the edges of the tile element successively to said grindingwheels.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 including means for rotating thetile elements clamped in said tile clamp assemblies to successivelypresent the several edges thereof to said grinding wheels to effect auniform treatment thereof.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for rotatingthe tile elements clamped in said tile clamp assemblies comprisesopposed rotatable tile clamping tips on each said tile clamp assembly,aligning studs associated with said tips, and cam means mounted adjacentsaid grinding wheels adapted for engagement by said studs, saidengagement producing a rotation of the tile elements to present eachedge thereof to said grinding wheels. I

4. Tile-treating apparatus for removing sand particles from the edges ofceramic tile elements comprising, tile grinding means, and means forpresenting the several edges of a tile element successively to said tilegrinding means, said means for presenting the several edges of the tileelement to said tilegrinding means comprising a tile clamp assembly,means for advancing said tile clamp assembly with respect to saidtilegrinding means, and means associated with said tile clamp assemblyfor rotating the tile element to successively present the several tileedges to said grinding means to effect a uniform treatment thereof, saidmeans for advancing said tile clamp assembly with respect to said tilegrinding means including a pair of spaced parallel shafts joumaled onsaid apparatus, a pair of spaced sprockets on each of said shafts, apair of endless chains extending around said sprockets, drive means fordriving one of said shafts in rotation to advance said chains at auniform rate, and a support shaft extending transversely between andconnected at each end to said pair of endless chains, said tile clampassembly being pivotally mounted on said support shaft.

5. Tile-treating apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means forrotating the tile element comprises opposed rotatable tile-clamping tipson each said tile clamp assembly, aligning studs associated with saidtips, and cam means mounted adjacent said grinding means adapted forengagement by said studs, said engagement producing a rotation of thetile element to present each edge thereof to said grinding means.

6. Tile-treating apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including means foropening said tile-clamping tips to permit the pickup and release of tileelements.

7. Tile-treating apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including means forextending said tile clamp assembly perpendicularly to the path ofmovement of said chains and for preventing pivotal motion of said tileclamp assembly during pickup and release of the tile elements.

8. Tile-treating apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said lattermeans comprises a cylindrical drum coaxially mounted between one saidpairs of spaced sprockets for rotation therewith, and a block on saidtile clamp assembly having an arcuate surface adapted to coact with saiddrum to lock the tile clamp assembly in an extended radial dispositionduring passage of said assembly around said drum.

9. Tile-treating apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said clampassembly includes a pair of clamping arms mounted in spaced relation andextending from said support shaft, said clamping arms rotatablysupporting on the outer end thereof said tile clamping tips, one of saidclamping arms being pivotally mounted to permit the opening of saidtips, and means for resiliently urging said clamping arms together tosecure a tile element between said clamping tips.

1. Tile-treating apparatus for removing sand particles from the edges ofceramic tile elements comprising a frame, a pair of spaced parallelshafts journaled on said frame, a pair of spaced sprockets on each ofsaid shafts, a pair of endless chains extending around said sprockets,drive means for driving one of said shafts in rotation to advance saidchains at a uniform rate, a plurality of tile clamp assemblies pivotallymounted between said chains, a plurality of grinding wheels rotatablydisposed between said chains on said frame, means for driving saidgrinding wheels in rotation and means on each of said tile clampassemblies for carrying a tile element across said grinding wheels andpresenting the edges of the tile element successively to said grindingwheels.
 2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 including means forrotating the tile elements clamped in said tile clamp assemblies tosuccessively present the several edges thereof to said grinding wheelsto effect a uniform treatment thereof.
 3. The iNvention as claimed inclaim 2 wherein said means for rotating the tile elements clamped insaid tile clamp assemblies comprises opposed rotatable tile clampingtips on each said tile clamp assembly, aligning studs associated withsaid tips, and cam means mounted adjacent said grinding wheels adaptedfor engagement by said studs, said engagement producing a rotation ofthe tile elements to present each edge thereof to said grinding wheels.4. Tile-treating apparatus for removing sand particles from the edges ofceramic tile elements comprising, tile grinding means, and means forpresenting the several edges of a tile element successively to said tilegrinding means, said means for presenting the several edges of the tileelement to said tile-grinding means comprising a tile clamp assembly,means for advancing said tile clamp assembly with respect to saidtile-grinding means, and means associated with said tile clamp assemblyfor rotating the tile element to successively present the several tileedges to said grinding means to effect a uniform treatment thereof, saidmeans for advancing said tile clamp assembly with respect to said tilegrinding means including a pair of spaced parallel shafts journaled onsaid apparatus, a pair of spaced sprockets on each of said shafts, apair of endless chains extending around said sprockets, drive means fordriving one of said shafts in rotation to advance said chains at auniform rate, and a support shaft extending transversely between andconnected at each end to said pair of endless chains, said tile clampassembly being pivotally mounted on said support shaft.
 5. Tile-treatingapparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating the tileelement comprises opposed rotatable tile-clamping tips on each said tileclamp assembly, aligning studs associated with said tips, and cam meansmounted adjacent said grinding means adapted for engagement by saidstuds, said engagement producing a rotation of the tile element topresent each edge thereof to said grinding means.
 6. Tile-treatingapparatus as claimed in claim 5, including means for opening saidtile-clamping tips to permit the pickup and release of tile elements. 7.Tile-treating apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including means forextending said tile clamp assembly perpendicularly to the path ofmovement of said chains and for preventing pivotal motion of said tileclamp assembly during pickup and release of the tile elements. 8.Tile-treating apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said latter meanscomprises a cylindrical drum coaxially mounted between one said pairs ofspaced sprockets for rotation therewith, and a block on said tile clampassembly having an arcuate surface adapted to coact with said drum tolock the tile clamp assembly in an extended radial disposition duringpassage of said assembly around said drum.
 9. Tile-treating apparatus asclaimed in claim 6 wherein said tile clamp assembly includes a pair ofclamping arms mounted in spaced relation and extending from said supportshaft, said clamping arms rotatably supporting on the outer end thereofsaid tile clamping tips, one of said clamping arms being pivotallymounted to permit the opening of said tips, and means for resilientlyurging said clamping arms together to secure a tile element between saidclamping tips.